Antarctic Iceberg A23a Nears Complete Disintegration After 40 Years

Iceberg A23a, once nearly twice the size of Greater London and weighing close to a trillion tonnes, calved from Antarctica's Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in 1986. Grounded on the Weddell Sea seabed for over 30 years, it broke free in 2020 and drifted north through the Southern Ocean. Now entering warmer South Atlantic waters, A23a is rapidly melting and fracturing, with scientists expecting it to fully disintegrate within weeks. Its breakup may impact Antarctic ecosystems and oceanic conditions.